Apparatus for the feeding and coating of cigarette labels

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for successively affixing labels to packages. The labels are successively fed between an adhesive applying roller and a pressure roller. A coating roller is immerged within a reservoir of adhesive and means are provided to rotationally drive the coating roller to coat the periphery of the adhesive applying roller with adhesive. The pressure roller and the coating roller are each mounted for movement away from the adhesive applying roller in response to a command signal representative of a condition wherein the particular package to which a label is to be affixed is missing. Means are also provided for temporarily stopping the feeding of labels in response to the command signal.

United States Patent I 72 Inventor Ariosto Seragnoli [56] References Cited via delle R058, 50, Bologna, Italy UNITED STATES PATENTS 28$ 31 1968 2,545,292 3/1951 Magnusson 156/357 [45] Patented i 2,894,481 7/1959 Stuchbery 118/8X u [32] Priority Apr. 20. 1967 Primary Examiner-Laveme D. Geiger [33] Italy Assistant Examiner-Robert 1. Smith [31 l620A/67 Attorney-Burns, Lobato & Zelnick [54 APPARATUS FOR THE FEEDING AND COATING ABSTRACT: An apparatus is disclosed for successively affixing labels to packages. The labels are successively fed between an adhesive applying roller and a pressure roller. A coating roller is immerged within a reservoir of adhesive and means are provided to rotationally drive the coating roller to coat the periphery of the adhesive applying roller with adhesive. The pressure roller and the coating roller are each mounted for movement away from the adhesive applying roller in response to a command signal representative of a condition wherein the particular package to which a label is to be affixed is missing. Means are also provided for temporarily stopping the feeding of labels in response to the command signal.

' PATEN TED FEB 2m: 3,559,617

' SHEET 2 OF 4 .FigZ

INVENTQR. Amosto 5e regnoli PATENTEDH-I 2|97| SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENT( R A riosfo Jerenob A gem;

' PATENIED FEB 21971 SHEET t [If 4 INVENTOR.

Am v .Seraanoli Agen s APPARATUS FOR THE FEEDING AND COATING OF CIGARETTE LABELS This invention relates to an apparatus for the distribution in succession of labels and envelopes in general grouped in piles for the feeding of automatic machines for conditioning or packaging cigarettes in packets. The invention proposes to provide a label distributing or dispensing apparatus which can distribute or dispense an increased number of labels per unit time, thus being capable of association with packing machines of cigarettes and similar products having increased working speeds and in consequence high productions.

It is known that the prior art apparatuses for the distribution of sheets of paper and labels generally demand, for their work ing cycle. the use of numerous and relatively high masses in reciprocal movement which constitute an impediment to the achievement of increased speeds of functioning, and therefore of large dispensing of labels. The known apparatuses have the disadvantage of continuing to operate even when it would be convenient to interrupt the functioning for a brief interval of time. In this connection. the case in which one must prepare packets of cigarettes which continually advance step by step, if one of these packets should turn out defective. i.e.. if a gap should occur in the succession of packets, a label would still be dispensed even though such a label would not be used.

The disadvantages which arise from this are obvious. both from the point of view of the waste of material. and of the functioning regularity.

Consequently, it turns out to be extremely important to be able to stop the functioning of the dispensing apparatus in correspondence with the passage of the gap related to the defective packet.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the distribution of labels and similar articles in automatic machines, particularly in papering machines and packing machines for packetsof cigarettes, in which it is possible to interrupt the distribution of labels at the passage of a gap in the succession of the packets to be packed and in which, moreover, the. masses in reciprocal movement are reduced in substantial measure, thus permitting the achievement of increased speeds of functioning.

Consequently, the apparatus according to the invention may be employed separately. or in association with any conditioning machine. Its use is, moreover, particularly convenient in an automatic-conditioning-packing-papering machine for cigarettes as manufactured by the firm G.D. di E. & A. Seragnoli of Bologna, Italy.

In such a machine, there previously occurs the formation of successive groups of cigarettes; in each group there is collected a number of cigarettes corresponding to the content of one packet. These groups are arranged bearing constantly in mind the necessity of not submitting the single cigarettes, in any phase of the conditioning operation, to axial stresses.

The prevention of axial stresses is for the purpose of avoiding any deformation of the cigarettes themselves, a deformation which turns into creasing of the cigarette paper which detrimentally affects their appearance as well as of the compactness of the tobacco they contain. In said machine, the cigarettes thus collected in groups are conveyed, advancing in step, transversally to their axes, towards successive conditioning stations. During their movement, the groups of cigarettes thus obtained pass in' correspondence to sensing members which check if all the groups are constituted of the exact number of cigarettes and. if all the cigarettes contain a suffrcient quantity of tobacco. If, for any reason, some groups are incomplete, such a condition is indicated by the sensing member and the group is expelled.

Therefore, at the successive conditioning stations and particularly in relation to the apparatus according to the present invention, there occurs a gap or discontinuity between the successive arriving groups of cigarettes.

If this gap should not'be noticed by the distribution ap paratus, the apparatus would dispense a label which would not be used. Moreover such would interfere with the normal and rhythmical conditioning process. causing hinderances in the production sequence.

For this reason, the label distribution apparatus according to the present invention, must be provided with members which. upon control by a signal proceeding from a memorizer which is sensitized by the information sent from the sensing depression. A mobile interception means is provided to effect the cyclic connection between said members and said source in the phase of removal and transfer of the labels. The apparatus further includes a glue or adhesive reservoir, a roller immerged in said reservoir capable of transferring said material to one or more glue rollers operating in correspondence with the area of passage of the successive labels to effect the gluing of the labels and is characterized in that the immerged roller cooperates with means suitable to obtain the release and the removal of said immerged roller from said glue rollers. The release is connected with a corresponding break of the passage of labels and the break corresponds to the occurrence of one or more gaps in the succession of the packets of cigarettes which have arrived at the apparatus. The gaps are indicated the above-mentioned sensing means.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a distribution apparatus illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows partially in view and partially in vertical longitudinal sections taken along different planes, the upper part of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows in a similar way the lower part of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows, partially in view and partially in a cross vertical sections taken along different planes, a part of the apparatus situated to the left of a vertical longitudinal plane of division; and

FIG. 4 shows, analogously, the remaining part of the apparatus, situated to the right of the said plane of division; the FIGS. 3 and 4, and is most easily read by matching the right edge of FIG. 3 to the left edge of FIG. 4 and aligning the corresponding parts.

With reference to these FIGS., firstly described are the kinematic linking devices for the transmission of the movement from the primary motion source to the principal members. The moton'mtion of such members may be derived either from the principal shaft of a conditioning machine, not shown, or from any other motion source. Such derivations may be obtained, for example, by means of a chain transmission system or by belts and pulleys. A first chain wheel 1 is keyed onto a shaft 2 and provided with a first series of toothed rims 3 with which a respective chain 3a cooperates for connection with the primary source of motion. The same chain wheel 1 is provided with a second series of toothed rims 4 with which cooperates a chain 5 in engagement through a gear wheel 50 with a chain wheel 6 keyed onto'a shaft 7, which is therefore entrained in its rotation.

On the shaft 7 is keyed a cogwheel 8 in mesh with a cogwheel 9 attached to a further shaft 10. Thus the motorization of the principal shafts 2, 7 and I0 is obtained.

The labels are piled inside a hopper ll depicted by the pairs of plane and parallel walls l2, l3, and l4, 15.

The walls 14 and 15 are provided in proximity of the base of the slide members, 16 and 17 respectively. These slide members are regulatable to selective positions by means of locking screws on the body A of the apparatus (see FIG. 3). The walls l2 and I3 have. instead. the slide members I60 and 17a sliding in a guide l8 connected to the slide member 17 so as to be able to be distanced according to the dimensions of the label. and thus defining the dimensions of the cigarettes for conditioning. For these reasons. the guide 18 has graduated steps 19 and 20 which are put in opposed relationship with the pointers 2| situated on the mobile slides 16a and 17a. On the wall 14 is provided a sensing member 22 of a known type. constituted for example of the control member of a microswitch 22a connected within a suitable signalling circuit.

Such a control member is normally punched by the pile of labels to the inside of the wall 14.- but when the pile approaches exhaustion. and its upper level falls below the level of the same control member. this latter achieves its natural inclined position activating the microswitch 22a to rapidly signal the exhaustion of the pile of labels. In response to this signal. the hopper 11 is replenished with labels. The bottom base of the hopper is formed of a moving element. The moving element is supported by a tube parallel to the shaft 7 and movable transversally to the structure of the machine along a horizontal slit 24. On such tube is connected a bracket 25 which supports, at the level of the bottom of the feed box. two longitudinally and spaced-apart aligned planes 26 and 27.

The tube 23 is caused to translate horizontally and alternately by means of a rod and crank transmission formed in the following manner: to the tube 23 is attached the small end 28 of a connecting rod 29 whose large end 30 is eccentrically attached at 31 to a wheel 32 connected to said shaft 7.

lnside the tube 23 is situated a revolving shaft 33 whose end, provided with a roller 34, is guided into a horizontal sleeve 35 parallel to the slit 24. At the opposite end of the shaft 33, outside the structure of the apparatus. is attached the hub 36 of a sector wheel 37. a I

Peripherally such sector wheel 37 is shaped so as to define a label-supporting surface comprising a cylindrical wall 38 having a length or development in the sense of the genatrix substantially corresponding to the transverse length of the planes 26 and 27. and in fact approximately corresponding to the base width of the hopper. Moreover, the same wheel extends tangentially to the plane common to said planes 26 and 27, in the area in which they are distanced, thus constituting a junction between the planes themselves in correspondence with the discontinuity included between them.

The wheel 37 is moreover provided having a spoke with internal bore or cavity. The cavity extends radially from the center of the wheel and communicates at one end with the outside 39a in correspondence with the surface 38 and at the other end with a pipe which will be described later. On said shaft 33 is keyed a cogwheel 40 which engages with a rack 41 of rectilinear development parallel to that of the slit 24. Thus by means of the connection of the tube 23 through the connecting rod 29 to the wheel 32, a horizontal alternate translational movement of the shaft 33 is obtained, and thus of the bracket 25, of the planes 26 and 27 and of the wheel 37, while by means of the engagement of the cogwheel 40 in the rack 41, the same shaft 33 is submitted, during such translational movement, to a rotational movement which detennines the consequent rotation of the sector wheel 37."This rotation, in the example shown in the HQ, is in a counterclockwise direction during the advancement from left to right of the tube 23 inside the slit 24. while during the return stroke the same rotation is in a clockwise direction.

A further horizontal sleeve 42 is attached perpendicularly to the tube 23. The sleeve 42 is in other words inclined according to the direction of the horizontal translational motion of the tube 23 itself. Such sleeve 42 is coaxial and external with respect to a pipe 43 connected through a union 44 to a suction member not shown, the connection comprising interception means which will be described later.

Consequently, such pipe 43 crosses through all its length the sleeve 42. crossing it in its two sealed ends.

Between the sleeve 42 and the pipe 43 is defined a hollow cylindrical space 44a. in communication with the inside of the tube 43 through a nozzle 45. The space 44a is also in communication with an annular cylindrical chamber 46 existing between the internal wall of the tube 23 and the shaft 33.

The cylindrical chamber communicates through a hole 47 with an axial pipe 48 obtained inside the shaft 33. The pipe 48 is placed in communication with the radial cavity of the spoke 39 and thus with the outside of the apparatus. as has been seen earlier.

The group of members converging on'the shaft 10. and are thereby controlled. will now be described.

On the shaft 10 are keyed a roller 50 and a cam 51. Against the roller 50, the rollers 52. S3 and 54 are maintained in elastic engagement and are consequently placed in rotation by the same roller 50. The roller 52 turns about its own shaft 55, carried by a radial arm 56 attached at its end 57 to the shaft 58.

At the opposite end of the shaft 58 is attached a radial arm 59 connected to the end of a spiral spring 60 whose other end is fixed at 61 to the structure of the machine. By means of such arrangement. the rollers 52 is, in normal position, in springbiased engagement with the surface of the roller 50, but the engaging shaft 58 may rotate against the action of spring'60. thus permitting a relative separation between said small roller 52 and the roller 50,

The small rollers 53 and 54 are mounted on rocking levers 62 and 63 engaged on the same common shaft 64 and cooperating respectively. with the helical springs 65 and 66 which tend to maintain said rollers 53 and 54 in pressure contact against the roller 50.

The cam 51 is designed to control the interception members of the above-mentioned suction circuit. Such members comprise a union coupling 67 connected to a suction pipe 68 coming from the suction members, not shown. To such coupling 67 is connected a fixed pipe 69 whose end section 70 is cyclically positioned in communication with a movable valve member or section of mobile pipe 71 which, through the union 72 and the tubing 73, is connected to the union 44 of the pipe 43 previously described.

In order to put the pipes 70 and 71 in cyclical communication. the pipe 71 is obtained inside a sleeve element 74 slidingly held in a fixed .seat 75. in cooperation with a compressed helical spring 76. The axial movement of this sleeve member is determined by the connection between a small wheel 77, turning about the shaft 78 carried by a forked extension of said member 74, and the cam 51. The small wheel 77 is maintained in engagement with the profile of the cam 51 by the thrusting action of the spring 76.

Accordingly, by means of the rotation of the shaft 10, and by the consequent rotation of the cam 51. the sleeve 74 undergoes to a reciprocal motion inside the seat 75, thus periodically putting the suction source in communication with the inside of the pipe 43, and thus definitively. through the successive communications previously described, with the outside of the surface of the sector wheel to the spoke 39.

Underneath the interception group is positioned, inside an envelope 79, an electromagnet 80 whose moving element is provided with a tooth 81 intended to engage, when the electromagnet is excited, (or deenergized according to alternative embodiments) inside a notch 82 located in the body of the sliding sleeve 74. It is'evident therefore that when the electromagnet deenergized (or energized), the tooth 81 is retracted to the outside of the notch 82 so as not to obstruct the reciprocal movement of the sleeve 74. Vice versa, in the energized (or deenergized) position of the electromagnet, the tooth 81 engages in the notch 82 locking the valve sleeve 74 in the position of noncommunication between the pipe 71 and the delivery pipe 69.

The electromagnet 80 is electrically connected, by means of a conductor 83, to the previously mentioned memory member.

The members which are related to the shaft 2 will now be described in relation to said shaft.

On the shaft 2. a cogwheel 84 is keyed which engages simultaneously with a cogwheel 85 revolving about the shaft 86, and with a cogwheel 87 revolving about the shaft 88. The wheel 85 engages with a cogwheel 89 keyed onto the shaft 90 and is in mesh with the cogwheel 89a keyed onto the shaft 97, while the wheel 87 engages with the cogwheel 91 keyed onto the shaft 92 and is in mesh with the cogwheel 91a keyed onto the shaft 101.

On the shaft 90 are keyed the rollers 93 and 94. which are consequently entrained in rotation by it.

Against the rollers 93 and 94 elastically engage the counterrollers 95 and 96 keyed onto the shaft 97. The elastic engagement is obtained by helical springs 98 which press on the shaft 97.

Analogously, the shaft 92 carries a series of wheels and rollers 99, while some counterrollers 100 are keyed onto the shaft 101 and maintained in spring-biased engagement with said rollers 99 under the action of pressure springs 102 which press on the shaft 101.

The same cogwheel 84 entrains. together with the wheels 85 and 87, the cogwheel 103 carried by a shaft 104 revolving in rigid connection with it.

On such shaft is furthermore attached a buffer roller 105 which dips inside a container 106 capable of use as a reservoir for a suitable adhesive or gluing material.

The reservoir 106 is closed above by a cover 107 engaged along the shaft 108. The cover also including roller 105 to assure an efficient protection from the fouling of the surrounding environment.

Said container 106 is revolvingly supported, in relation to its base, by the shaft 109, while its lateral walls support said shaft 104 which crosses the container through all its width.

Along the shaft 2 are attached, in alignment two hubs 110 and 111, from which radially develop cylindrical sectors, 1 12 and 113 respectively. These cylindrical sectors are angularly offset between themselves, such as to come in contact, during their rotation, with the aforesaid roller 105. The hubs and sectors comprise an adhesive applying roller for applying glue or adhesive to the labels. Such sectors 112 and 113 of the adhesive applying roller are intended to apply, in predetermined areas of the label, of the gluing material which is removed from the tank 106 by the roller 105. A counterroller or pressure roller 114, revolving about the shaft 115, assures an effective pressure for the application of the gluing material on the label during the gluing operation.

The shaft 115 of the pressure roller 114 is in turn supported by an angular level 116 pivoted at 117. The roller 114 is maintained in spring-biased engagement against the surfaces for application of the gluing material by the pressure spring 118 whose elastic pressure can be regulated by action of the screw 119.

The assembly constituted of the rollers 95, 96, 114 and 100 and of the members connected to them, is mounted on a support element indicated in its entirety by 120, which is pivoted 121 and 122 about the shaft 123 so as to be able to be movable about the shaft itself.

During the operation, the support member 120 is positioned as shown in the drawing wherein it is locked by the aligned pins 124 and 125 projecting from the top and bottom of the support 120. Between such pins a pressure spring 126 is arranged which tends to keep them apart; to the same pins 124 and 125 are fixed gripping knobs, respectively 127 and 128.

The support member 120 is locked in the position represented in the drawing by the engagement of the conical ends of the pins 124 and 125, projecting from the member, into suitable conjugate seats obtained in the body of the structure. Acting on the knobs 127 and 128 in the direction of their mutual approach, the ends of the pins 124 and 125 are disengaged from the relative seats, retracting inside of the member 120 against the action of the spring 126. Thus it is consequently possible to open in a flaplike manner the support structure 120 thereby allowing access into the area contained between pairs of rollers in order to effect the normal maintenance operations.

Pairs of parallel vertical walls, such as 129 and 130, of which latter constituted in its intermediate part of rodlikc members 131 and underneath ofa section 132, have a vertical slit situated between them in which occurs the movement of the labels Such walls are provided with apertures in correspondence with the rollers 93 and 94, and 96. 114, in order to allow their mutual engagement.

The device which permits the interruption of the feeding of gluing materials to the labels when there occurs a gap in the series of packets advancing in step underneath the apparatus, will now be described.

Such a device comprises an electromagnet 133 connected by a conductor 134 to the aforementioned memory. The moving element 135 of the electromagnet is connected at 136 to the end of a tie rod 137 provided with a nut 138 against which bears the end of a spiral spring 139 whose opposite end is in engagement with the fixed structure of the machine.

The lower section of the tie rod 137 is pivoted at 140 to a lever 141 provided in its middle section with a sleeve 142 external and coaxial with respect to the shaft 109 end of said lever is provided with a transversal pin or catch 144 which engages insidea cavity 145 obtained in the wall of the container 106.

In an intermediate point of the tie rod 137 is engaged the end 146 of a bellcrank lever 147 revolving about the shaft 88, which becomes engaged, with its other end 148. against the end of the bellcrank lever 116, which, as has been seen, is pivoted about the shaft 117 and is subjected to the action of the spring 118.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present invention is as follows: reference is first made to the normal mode of operation. The packets of cigarettes are fed to the apparatus, in order to receive the label, and follow each other regularly spaced and advancing in step. Excluded, therefore, in this first mode of operation, is the case in which in the apparatus, between the groups of cigarettes in arrival, there occurs a gap caused by the expulsion, upstream from the apparatus itself, of one or more incomplete or defective packets.

The pile of labels is positioned inside of the hopper 11 and lie on the movable bottom thereof, which, at the beginning of each phase, is formed of the plane 27. The sector wheel 37 is positioned, at the beginning of each cycle in correspondence with the left end of the slit 24, as represented by a dash and dot section line, in a manner such as to place the exit hole of the suction pipe in communication with the bottom of the pile, and thus with the sheet of paper to be removed. By means of the rotation of the sheet of paper to be removed. By means of the rotation of the wheel 32 connected to the shaft 7, the moving element, supported by the tube 23 and connected to it translates horizontally, while at the same time the sector wheel turns about its own shaft 33 by means of the engagement of the cogwheel 40 with the rack 41. In consequence there occurs a translation of the planes 26 and 27, and a rotationaltranslational movement of the cylindrical surface 38 of the wheel 37.

Simultaneously and in synchronism of phase, the rotation of the shaft 10, and of the cam 51 connected to it, causes the sliding of the sleeve 74 in its seat 75. The phase relationship is such that when the spoke 39 is in the position indicated by a dash and dot sectional line in FIG. 3, and thus when the pipe situated inside the spoke opens as has been said earlier in correspondence with the plane of the base of the hopper, the cam 51 correspondingly allows the sleeve 74 to move towards the right to effect the communication between the pipe 71 and the pipe 70. in this situation, the suction or negative pressure determined by a source of negatively pressurized fluid, not shown, upstream from the pipe 68 communicates, through the sections or portions 69, 70, 71, 73, 43, 45, 44a, 46, 47, 48 and 39a, in correspondence with the said base of the hopper, and thus, in fact, in correspondence with the last of the labels of the pile which must be removed. Naturally accepting the supposition of the working in the normal mode, the tooth 81 of the electromagnet 80 is retracted, and does not engage the notch 82 of the sleeve 74.

By means of the suction which is thus determined. the cylindrical label supporting surface 38. in its rotational-translational movement. pulls the final label away from the pile. which remains lying on the surface 38.

The same label revolves consequently. in a counterclockwise direction in the embodiment shown in the drawing. and is transferred. always lying on the surface 38 until the pipe 23 arrives in proximity to the end" of the slit. the suction ceases. The interruption of the suction is caused by the fact that. since the shaft 10 has continued to rotate. the sector having the cam of greatest eccentricity has been brought to operatively face the roller 77 connected to the sleeve 74.

Consequently. the sleeve itself is moved along its seat until it interrupts the fluid communication between the pipes 70 and 71.

At the cessation of the suction or negative pressure the label, which in the meantime has arrived in correspondence with the cylindrical surface of the roller 50. lying on said surface. and by the rotation of this latter. which is in rigid connection with the shaft 10, is made to pass beneath the rollers 52. 53 and 54 until arriving in correspondence with the slit defined by the platelike guides 129 and 130. Descending along such slit, and after being passed in correspondence with the small pressure rollers 93, 94, 95 and 96. the label arrives at the gluing rollers.

There the cylindrical sectors 112 and 113, which have previously received the gluing material from the buffer roller 105 which clips or is immerged in the tank 106. transfer the glue to the label along the predetermined zone. The glued label then descends along the slit characterized by the planes 131 and 132 and, entrained by the small rollers 99 and 100, exits from the lower part of the apparatus to be sent to successive stations in which it is finally used, for example to form a packet envelope.

Assume now that it is necessary to interrupt for one or more cycles the removal of labels from the pile contained in the hopper 11 and that, simultaneously it is desired to suspend the supply of glue to the individualized cylindrical surfaces of the adhesive applying roller on the sectors 112 and 113. This situation may arise whenever, a packet gap intervenes, between successive groups or packets of cigarettes advancing in step. which gap is caused by the removal of an incomplete packet or packets. ln such a case, the information of the expulsion which has occurred is memorized and becomes, when the gap related to the group of cigarettes expelled arrives in correspondence with the conditioning station fed by said apparatus, an energization pulse or command signal which is applied to the electromagnets 80 and 133.

Such a command signal results, in regard to the electromagnet 80, in the engagement of the tooth 81 in the notch 82 of the sleeve 74. By means of this, the sleeve 74 remains locked in the position shown in the drawing and consequently, it no longer follows a reciprocal movement in its seat in dependence on the state of the profile of the cam.

The connection between the delivery pipe 68 and the exit pipe 73 is also impeded so that the suction and the consequent removal of a label from the bottom of the pile does not occur. The above conditions occur notwithstanding the fact that the rotational-translational movement of the sector wheel 37 is continued. Naturally, the time duration in which the tooth iocks the sleeve 74 is in relation to the number of gaps which are created in the succession of groups of cigarettes.

The restoration of the normal reciprocal movement of the sleeve 74 is in relation to the number of gaps which are created in the succession of groups of cigarettes and is accompanied by retracting the tooth 81 of the notch 82, thus deenergizing the electromagnet 80.

The electromagnet 133, instead, at the presentation of a gap, is energized thereby determining the raising of the tie rod 137.

The rising of the tie rod effects the rotation of the rocking lever 141 about the shaft 109. The rocking lever is articulatedly associated at 140, to said tie rod 137.

Correspondingly. the opposite end 143 of the rocking lever 141. turning about the said shaft 109. causes a rotation of the reservoir 106 about the same shaft. Because the buffer roller is connected to the reservoir and its shaft is supported by the walls of the reservoir. the roller 105 also rotates about the shaft 109 thereby disengaging itself from contact with the cylindrical sectors 112 and 113.

in such a manner. the feeding of gluing material to said gluing sectors ceases.

Moreover. because on the sectors 112 and 113 residue traces of glue material may be present. remaining from preceding cycles, it is convenient to disengage the counterroller 114 from elastic engagement with the gluing sectors. This is accomplished in the following manner: when the tie rod 137 rises. it entrains the end 146 of the rocking lever 147 which, in consequence. turns about its own shaft 88.

It follows that the end 148 of the same lever presses against the support lever'117 of the roller 114, which is elastically pushed a spring-biased manner from behind. thereby accomplishing the withdrawal of the small roller 114. Thus it is certain that when the distribution of labels is suspended. the counterroller or pressure roller 114 does not become dirticd. Thus the pressure roller -114 is moved away from the adhesive applying roller 112, 113 coincidently with the adhesive supply means 105 being rendered ineffective.

Naturally, at the cessation of the conditions which demand the interruption of thegluing phase, i.e.. when the gap is exhausted and the apparatus once more receives the normal succession of packets of cigarettes advancing on step. the electromagnet 133 is deenergized whereupon the moving element redescends so as to cause the restoration of the initial conditions.

It has been ascertained in actual practice that the apparatus for the automatic distribution of labels according to the present invention. fulfills all the preestablished objects. In particular. it results in especially suitable application in paperpacking machines for cigarettes designed for high production per unit time and capable of safeguarding at the same time, in maximum measure, avoiding the stresses which could damage or deform them.

The apparatus according to the invention may moreover find applications, in general, in all those machines which demand the distribution of glued labels and the like.

The invention as thus conceived may be subjected to numerous modifications and variations of the constitutive all lying within the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover all the details are substitutable by other technically equivalent means.

lclaim:

1. An apparatus for applying adhesive to labels comprising: a rotatably mounted adhesive applying roller; drive means for rotationally driving said adhesive applying roller; adhesive supply means for supplying adhesive to the surface of said adhesive applying roller; a rotatably mounted pressure roller normally in contact with said adhesive applying roller and cooperative therewith to apply adhesive to one surface of labels supplied therebetween; label supply means for individually supplying labels between contacting portions of said pressure roller and adhesive applying roller; mounting means mounting said pressure roller for movement away from said adhesive applying roller; and means responsive to a command signal for coincidently effecting movement of said pressure roller away from said adhesive applying roller and rendering said adhesive supply means ineffective.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said label supply means includes means responsive to said command signal for rendering said label supply means ineffective.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said label supply means includes a movably mounted label-supporting surface movable in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller to cyclically advance individual labels towards said adhesive applying roller; pneumatic means for pneumatically holding individual labels 9 against said label-supporting surface during advancement thereof; and movable valve means operative in response to said command signal for rendering said pneumatic mea'ns ineffectivc.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3; including cam means operative in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller for cyclically moving said valve means to render said pneumatic means cyclically effective.

5. An apparatus according to claim I; wherein said adhesive supply means comprises means defining a reservoir of adhesive; a rotatably mounted roller at least partially immerged in said reservoir and normally in contact with said adhesive applying roller; and means mounting said roller for movement away from said adhesive applying roller in response to said command signal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5; wherein said label supply means includes a movable mounted label-supporting surface movable in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller to cyclically advance individual labels towards said adhesive applying roller; pneumatic means for pneumatically holding individual labels against said label-supporting surface during advancement thereof; and movable valve means operative in response to said command signal for rendering said pneumatic means ineffective. 

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said label supply means includes means responsive to said command signal for rendering said label supply means ineffective.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said label supply means includes a movably mounted label-supporting surface movable in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller to cyclically advance individual labels towards said adhesive applying roller; pneumatic means for pneumatically holding individual labels against said label-supporting surface during advancement thereof; and movable valve means operative in response to said command signal for rendering said pneumatic means ineffective.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3; including cam means operative in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller for cyclically moving said valve means to render said pneumatic means cyclically effective.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said adhesive supply means comprises means defining a reservoir of adhesive; a rotatably mounted roller at least partially immerged in said reservoir and normally in contact with said adhesive applying roller; and means mounting said roller for movement away from said adhesive applying roller in response to said command signal.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5; wherein said label supply means includes a movable mounted label-supporting surface movable in timed relationship with rotational movement of said adhesive applying roller to cyclically advance individual labels towards said adhesive applying roller; pneumatic means for pneumatically holding individual labels against said label-supporting surface during advancement thereof; and movable valve means operative in response to said command signal for rendering said pneumatic means ineffective. 